Theultimateguidetothesmellsoftheuniverse-theambrosialtothemalodorous,andeverythinginbetween-fromtheauthoroftheacclaimedculinaryguidesOnFoodandCookingandKeystoGoodCookingFromHaroldMcGee,JamesBeardAward-winningauthorandleadingexpertonthescienceoffoodandcooking,comesanextensiveexplorationofthelong-overlookedworldofsmell.InNoseDive,McGeetakesusonasensoryadventure,fromthesulfurousnascentearthmorethanfourbillionyearsago,tothefruit-filledTianShanmountainrangenorthoftheHimalayas,tothekeyboardofyourlaptop,wheretracenotesofphenolandformaldehydeescapebetweenthekeys.We’llsnifftheordinary(wetpavementandcutgrass)andtheextraordinary(ambergrisandtruffles),thedelightful(rosesandvanilla)andthechallenging(swamplandsanddurians).We’llsmelloneanother.We’llsmellourselves.Throughitall,McGeefamiliarizesuswiththeactualbitsofmatterthatwebreathein--themoleculesthattriggerourperceptions,thatpromptthecitrusysmellsofcorianderandbeerandthemedicinalsmellsofdaffodilsandseaurchins.Andlikeeverythinginthephysicalworld,moleculeshavehistories.Manyofthemoleculesthatwesmelleverydayexistedlongbeforeanycreaturewasaroundtosmellthem--beforetherewasevenaplanetforthosecreaturestoliveon.Beginningwiththeoriginsofthosemoleculesininterstellarspace,McGeemovesonwardthroughthesmellsofourplanet,theairandtheoceans,theforestandthemeadowsandthecity,allthewaytothesmellsofincense,perfume,wine,andfood.Hereisastoryoftheworld,ofeverysmellunderourcollectivenose.Aworkofastoundingscholarshipandoriginality,NoseDivedistillsthesciencebehindthesmellsandtranslatesit,asonlyMcGeecan,intoanaccessibleandentertainingguide.Incorporatingthelatestinsightsofbiologyandchemistry,andinterweavingthemwithpersonalobservations,herevealshowoursenseofsmellhasthepowertoexposeinvisible,intangibledetailsofourmaterialworldandtriggerinusfeelingsthataretheveryessenceofbeingalive.
